Virginia to Illinois Car Shipping (2025 Cost Guide)

Quick answer: The average cost to ship a car 756 miles from Virginia to Illinois ranges from $774 to $1,131 and takes two–seven days depending on factors like the transport type and season. For a more detailed quote, use our car shipping cost calculator.

moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Price lock promise
  • Free car wash
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Established in 2007
  • No upfront payment
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
  • Services all 50 states
  • Ships most vehicles

Shipping a car the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our Illinois to Virginia car shipping guide.

The best Virginia to Illinois car shipping companies

We’ve done the research and these are the best car shipping companies to help transport your vehicle from Virginia to Illinois:

Best for accurate pricing
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (833) 775-1461
At A Glance
  • Price Lock Promise
  • Pay by credit card
  • Free car wash at delivery
  • No upfront deposit
  • Door-to-door service
read our full review
Check prices (833) 775-1461
Best cross-country shipper
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (224) 206-5633
At A Glance
  • No upfront payment
  • GPS tracking
  • Multiple insurance options
  • Competitive pricing
  • Door-to-door shipping
read our full review
Check prices (224) 206-5633
Best for discounts
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
Check prices (770) 501-9057
At A Glance
  • Competitive pricing
  • Last-minute car shipments
  • Guaranteed & expedited shipments
  • Gap insurance coverage
  • Multiple discounts
read our full review
Check prices (770) 501-9057
Best for overall value
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (864) 492-1221
At A Glance
  • No hidden fees
  • Free online quotes
  • Door-to-door service in 48 states
  • Exact pickup dates
  • Ships to & from HI
read our full review
Check prices (864) 492-1221
Best for quick pickup
Licensedcheckmark
Insuredcheckmark
Price dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign dollar sign
moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
Check prices (888) 259-6046
At A Glance
  • No upfront deposit
  • Expedited shipping
  • No hidden fees
  • Ships motorcycles & RVs
  • Discount for cash payments
read our full review
Check prices (888) 259-6046

Alternative ways to ship your car from Virginia to Illinois

  • Drive it yourself. This is straightforward but not always an option, and it will put about 756 miles on your car going from Virginia to Illinois. If you’re not sure, here are the pros and cons of driving your car vs shipping it.
  • Ship it with your movers. If you need to ship your car from Virginia for a move to Illinois, you may want to hire a moving company that can handle car shipping, as well. Many long-distance moving companies work with reputable car shippers to coordinate auto transport.
  • Hire a driver. Hire someone to drive the car from Virginia to Illinois for you. It’s an option, but will probably be a very costly one and involve trusting a driver to safely get your car to its destination.
  • Ship by train. If this is an option for you, it’s an affordable and secure way of shipping your vehicle. Shipping a car by train is actually the cheapest way to ship your car!

VA to IL auto transport costs and transit times

The tables below detail the costs and estimated transit times for shipping a car between popular cities in Virginia and Illinois. The average travel distance is about 756 miles, with shipping times typically ranging from two to seven days .

Cost to ship a car from Virginia Beach, VA to Illinois

From Virginia to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Virginia Beach, VA to Chicago, IL $759 – $1,155 899 miles 2 – 7 days
Virginia Beach, VA to Aurora, IL $840 – $1,303 936 miles 2 – 7 days
Virginia Beach, VA to Joliet, IL $840 – $1,217 910 miles 2 – 7 days
Virginia Beach, VA to Naperville, IL $800 – $1,266 922 miles 2 – 7 days
Virginia Beach, VA to Rockford, IL $829 – $1,211 985 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Chesapeake, VA to Illinois

From Virginia to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Chesapeake, VA to Chicago, IL $831 – $1,191 897 miles 2 – 7 days
Chesapeake, VA to Aurora, IL $760 – $1,278 935 miles 2 – 7 days
Chesapeake, VA to Joliet, IL $800 – $1,278 908 miles 2 – 7 days
Chesapeake, VA to Naperville, IL $840 – $1,290 920 miles 2 – 7 days
Chesapeake, VA to Rockford, IL $797 – $1,287 984 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Arlington, VA to Illinois

From Virginia to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Arlington, VA to Chicago, IL $737 – $1,034 698 miles 1 – 6 days
Arlington, VA to Aurora, IL $742 – $1,111 736 miles 1 – 6 days
Arlington, VA to Joliet, IL $786 – $1,100 710 miles 1 – 6 days
Arlington, VA to Naperville, IL $741 – $1,078 723 miles 1 – 6 days
Arlington, VA to Rockford, IL $773 – $1,150 785 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Norfolk, VA to Illinois

From Virginia to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Norfolk, VA to Chicago, IL $791 – $1,228 891 miles 2 – 7 days
Norfolk, VA to Aurora, IL $760 – $1,204 928 miles 2 – 7 days
Norfolk, VA to Joliet, IL $824 – $1,229 902 miles 2 – 7 days
Norfolk, VA to Naperville, IL $792 – $1,278 915 miles 2 – 7 days
Norfolk, VA to Rockford, IL $837 – $1,236 978 miles 2 – 7 days

Cost to ship a car from Richmond, VA to Illinois

From Virginia to Illinois Cost Distance Estimated transit time
Richmond, VA to Chicago, IL $797 – $1,116 798 miles 2 – 7 days
Richmond, VA to Aurora, IL $800 – $1,245 836 miles 2 – 7 days
Richmond, VA to Joliet, IL $780 – $1,192 810 miles 2 – 7 days
Richmond, VA to Naperville, IL $780 – $1,227 822 miles 2 – 7 days
Richmond, VA to Rockford, IL $839 – $1,228 885 miles 2 – 7 days

Shipping an SUV or truck from Virginia to Illinois

Since vehicles like SUVs, trucks, and vans are larger and heavier, it’s a bit more expensive to ship them than a sedan. How much more?

If you’re shipping a larger vehicle from Virginia to Illinois you should expect to pay between $968 and $1,414.

Factors that affect car shipping costs from VA to IL

When transporting your vehicle from the Old Dominion State to the Land of Lincoln, these factors will influence your final price:

  • Type of transport: Options like open, enclosed, or top-loaded transport cater to different needs. Open carriers are cost-effective, while enclosed transport provides added protection for luxury or classic cars. If you’re not sure, check out our guide comparing open vs. enclosed car shipping.
  • Vehicle size and type: The dimensions and weight of your vehicle directly affect shipping costs. The larger and heavier your vehicle, the more it will cost to ship your car to Illinois.
  • Distance and route: The journey from Virginia to Illinois spans approximately 756 miles, influencing fuel and labor costs. The longer the distance, the bigger the price tag.
  • Time of the year: Seasonal demand impacts the price of getting your car out of Virginia, with summer and winter holidays often seeing a spike due to increased moving and travel activity.
  • Fuel prices: Fluctuating fuel prices can significantly affect transport costs. This is an important consideration given the distance between Virginia and Illinois and the varying gas prices across the country.
  • Delivery expectations: Because it’ll make their job easier, your auto shipper may give you a pricing discount if you’re flexible on delivery dates. That being said, getting your car from Virginia to Illinois should take between two and seven days. Expedited services are available but come at a higher cost.

Illinois vehicle regulations you need to know

  • Car insurance requirements: The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.
  • Vehicle inspection: In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.
  • Driver’s license: Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.
  • Additional taxes: According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

Learn more with our car shipping checklist.

Transporting your vehicle from Virginia

More than 39 million people call Virginia home. Nicknamed the Old Dominion State, Virginia has humid hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters. The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream have a strong effect on eastern and southeastern coastal areas of the Commonwealth, making the climate there warmer and more constant.

Transporting your vehicle to Illinois

About 22 million people are living in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' climate is clearly different in the northern and southern halves of the state. The northern half experiences cold winters and mild summers whereas the southern half experiences mild winters and hot and humid summers. Illinois is a part of "tornado alley"

FAQ

Does someone have to be present when you ship a car for pickup in Virginia and delivery in Illinois?

Most companies will require that an adult of at least 18 years of age be present when picking up your car in Virginia and when dropping it off in Illinois.

Do you need car insurance when shipping your car from Virginia to Illinois?

If you’re not driving the vehicle from Virginia to Illinois, you aren't required to have typical car insurance. Your car hauler should have adequate insurance if an accident happened on the drive to Illinois, which you should verify before loading your car in Virginia.

If you’re driving your car at all in either state, you should understand the requirements. It's crucial for drivers to have liability insurance, meeting the state's minimum coverage requirements: $25,000 for individual injury or death, $50,000 for injury or death involving multiple individuals, and $20,000 for property damage. Elevate your road safety with mandatory uninsured motorist coverage, ensuring protection with matching limits. Stay road-ready by fulfilling these insurance obligations in Virginia.

The liability insurance minimums for Illinois are $25,000 bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident, and $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

How long does it take to ship a car from Virginia to Illinois?

Car shipping companies can travel about 500 miles per day. The trip from Virginia to Illinois is about 756 miles, and that’s as fast as about 2 days. However, most car transport companies will take two to seven days to travel from Virginia to Illinois.

Will I be required to have a vehicle inspection in either state?

All vehicles must pass annual safety and emissions inspections at DMV-approved stations. Vehicles that fail can be re-inspected for free within 60 days. Upon passing, a sticker is issued to indicate the vehicle's compliance.

In Illinois, emissions inspections are mandatory on a yearly basis for eligible vehicles in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducts tests on automobiles before residents can renew their vehicle registration with the Secretary of State's office.

If I have a driver’s license in Virginia, will I need one in Illinois?

Even if your out-of-state driver's license is valid, you must still pass a vision test and written exam if you are moving to Illinois. Within 90 days of becoming a resident in the state, you must convert your license to an Illinois non-commercial license.

If I bought a car in Virginia, will I be required to pay sales tax in Illinois after shipping it there?

It’s important to understand any tax implications if you’re having a car shipped from Virginia to Illinois after purchasing it.

According to Illinois law, the recipient or buyer of any vehicle transferred within the state must complete a Private Party Vehicle Tax Transaction form (form RUT-50) and pay the sales tax for the car within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.

We recommend that you always check for updated tax information in both Virginia and Illinois to avoid any hidden costs.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car from Virginia to Illinois?

The cheapest way to ship a car from Virginia to Illinois is to ship it on a train or choose an open trailer transport method, avoid expedited shipping, and be flexible with your pickup dates.

How much does it cost to ship a car from Virginia to Illinois?

Shipping a car from Virginia to Illinois costs $774 to $1,131.

Helpful Virginia resources